The Meaning of Genesis 44:1 Explained

Genesis 44:1

KJV: And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth.

YLT: And he commandeth him who is over his house, saying, 'Fill the bags of the men with food, as they are able to bear, and put the money of each in the mouth of his bag;

Darby: And he commanded him who was over his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry; and put every man's money in the mouth of his sack.

ASV: And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he commanded  the steward of his house,  saying,  Fill  the men's  sacks  [with] food,  as much as  they can  carry,  and put  every man's  money  in his sack's  mouth. 

What does Genesis 44:1 Mean?

Study Notes

But Benjamin's mess
Cf. It is important to observe that Benjamin now becomes prominent. Joseph is peculiarly the type of Christ in His first advent, rejection, death, resurrection, and present exaltation among the Gentiles, but unrecognized of Israel. As the greater Benjamin, "Son of sorrow," but also "Son of my right hand," He is to be revealed in power in the Kingdom Genesis 1:26-28 . See Scofield " Zechariah 12:8 ". It is then, and not till then, that Israel is to be restored and converted. See Scofield " Deuteronomy 30:3 ". Typically Genesis 45:1 ; Genesis 45:2 anticipates the revelation prophetically described,; Ezekiel 20:33-36 ; Hosea 2:14-23 at which time the Benjamin type of Christ will be fulfilled.
Benjamin
i.e. son of my right hand. Benjamin, "son of sorrow" to his mother, but "son of my right hand" to his father, becomes thus a double type of Christ. As Ben-oni He was the suffering One because of whom a sword pierced His mother's heart Luke 2:35 as Benjamin, head of the warrior tribe Genesis 49:27 firmly joined to Judah the kingly tribe; Genesis 49:8-12 ; 1 Kings 12:21 he becomes a type of the victorious One. It is noteworthy that Benjamin was especially honoured among the Gentiles Genesis 45:22 .
So manifold are the distinctions of Christ that many personal types of Him are needed. Joseph is not complete, Benjamin standing only for Christ the sorrowful One Isaiah 53:3 ; Isaiah 53:4 yet have power on earth. (Cf) (See Scofield " Genesis 43:34 ") .

Context Summary

Genesis 44:1-17 - Joseph's Cup In Benjamin's Sack
It is a terrible revelation when our Benjamins are found possessed of the cup. They have been so loved, so favored, so screened; they have never been guilty of the excesses of Reuben and Judah; they have given no rise to evil reports, like the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, Genesis 37:2. Now when they are convicted of sin, the surprise of their brethren is only equaled by their own remorse. This accounts for the soul agony of men like Cyprian, Augustine, Bunyan and Spurgeon. What transitions there are in life! At the close of the previous chapter the brothers were as happy as they could be, and here plunged into the deepest anguish. But the intensity of their pain and sorrow, like fire, melted and cleansed them, and prepared for the great reconciliation. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 44

1  Joseph's policy to stay his brothers
6  The silver cup is found in Benjamin's sack
14  They are brought before Joseph
18  Judah's humble supplication to Joseph

What do the individual words in Genesis 44:1 mean?

And he commanded - the steward of his house saying Fill the sacks of the men with food as much as they can carry and put silver each man in the mouth of his sack
וַיְצַ֞ו אֶת־ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־ בֵּיתוֹ֮ לֵאמֹר֒ מַלֵּ֞א אַמְתְּחֹ֤ת הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ אֹ֔כֶל כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יוּכְל֖וּן שְׂאֵ֑ת וְשִׂ֥ים כֶּֽסֶף־ אִ֖ישׁ בְּפִ֥י אַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ

וַיְצַ֞ו  And  he  commanded 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  the  steward 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בֵּיתוֹ֮  his  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
לֵאמֹר֒  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
מַלֵּ֞א  Fill 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.
אַמְתְּחֹ֤ת  the  sacks 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: אַמְתַּחַת  
Sense: sack, flexible container (for grain).
הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙  of  the  men 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
אֹ֔כֶל  with  food 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֹכֶל  
Sense: food.
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר  as  much  as 
Parse: Preposition-k, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יוּכְל֖וּן  they  can 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
שְׂאֵ֑ת  carry 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
וְשִׂ֥ים  and  put 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
כֶּֽסֶף־  silver 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֶּסֶף  
Sense: silver, money.
אִ֖ישׁ  each  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
בְּפִ֥י  in  the  mouth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
אַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ  of  his  sack 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אַמְתַּחַת  
Sense: sack, flexible container (for grain).